Agudelo called up to United States U20 MNT

New York Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo has been called up by U.S. head coach Thomas Rongen to the United States Under-20 Men’s National Team for a series of friendlies as well as a tournament in Uitgeest, Netherlands, beginning May 14.

Agudelo will miss as many as three matches; the Red Bulls’ MLS matches with Seattle Sounders FC and the Columbus Crew on May 15 and May 20 at Red Bull Arena, respectively, as well as the friendly match with Juventus FC on May 23, also at Red Bull Arena, pending final travel plans.

The Under-20 MNT will travel to the Netherlands on May 14 will play friendly matches with Senegal on May 18 and Korea Republic on May 20 before participating in the Cor Groenewegen Tournament from May 22-24. The squad returns May 25.

Agudelo, signed with the Red Bulls as a Home Grown Player on March 26, 2010, has been among the 18-man matchday roster in two games for head coach Hans Backe in the 2010 MLS season, but has yet to appear. He started and played 64 minutes in New York’s, 2-1, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win over Philadelphia Union on April 27, and has scored three goals in reserve matches.

The Barnegat, NJ native is a graduate of the United States U-17 Men’s National Team Residency Program at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, and has represented his country at prestigious competitions at the Under-17 level at the CONCACAF Under-17 Championships and the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and at the Under-20 level at Copa Chivas.